Like Lantamori, Bruenor wasn't sure how he felt about shrinking Demon to some magical doo-dad.  He couldn't imagine the powerful horse would be thrilled with the idea.
Still, it might be safer than a horse, even one as smart as his, on board a ship.

Haazheel is dubious about the statue idea. For one thing he says we don't want to be on a ship and crew that cannot accommodate a horse.

Sir Aberlayne nods.  "The Sea Lady's big enough to take the horses if need be, I was just worried if there was a storm or pirate attack that the horses could be hurt being jostled around in their stalls in the hold.  The statue idea was one another adventuring group I met the other day suggested, as they'd done it when traveling to Port Xialar before."

Bruenor nodded, though he still looked dubious
"i suppose if there's a storm, this bit of magical craziness might be preferable to possibly losing a good mount"

"I can see to the care of the animals in transport," Narthian offers. "But my powers are not the equal of a Great Druid. In addition to keeping the animals calm, I can influence the water about the ship, perhaps affect the wood of the ship to prevent sinking. These things may make the stone scrolls unnecessary. But! The scrolls may be a useful contingency should all other efforts fail. How about I go ask them, to see how they feel about the idea? It may be that they prefer being stone to being on a ship. If I can properly communicate the idea to them."


Edited because I forgot that I already had Speak with Animals prepared!
This message was last edited by the player at 14:10, Tue 14 Apr 2020.

A laugh escapes from Farian, as if she had just thought of something amusing. "I am sure that The Shining One will also grant his servant the power to keep the ship above water. But also," she adds with a smile, "Perhaps more. Can you imagine Demon and Lux and Valiant, at the least, charging across the surface of the sea? Or Cloud running among the clouds?" She half giggles, half chuckles at the pun. "These are all things Pelor might make possible through me."

Volsh laughed with Farian, "Eagle may enjoy running in the clouds. I am not sure that I would enjoy that... if the magic fails it is a long way from the cloud to the ground. And the ground is very hard the last time I checked."

Haazheel contributes an idea. If a storm is coming, two loops of rope, with padding, can be placed around the horse's body. The ends can be secured to the side of the  stall.

"I'll get a scroll as Narthian suggested," Lantamori said, grudgingly.  "Just in case.

"Let's go accept the Island job at the Guild.  Then we can visit the captain of the Sea Lady to see what plans he has."

Narthian smiles at Farian's comments as well. Those would be interesting sights. "It is a shame that you were not bitten by a were-eagle then Volsh! I will go talk to the horses, let them know what is coming and ease their fears."

"For certain Hubert would appreciate such spells!  And it would be indeed nice to know if the mounts are up for a sea adventure or would rather be stonily asleep during that time," Aberlayne said.

Narthian can head off to the stables to talk with the Leafblade Company's herd.  When asked how they would prefer to sail around the coastal waters, and offering them various options (being asleep as a statue until they were needed on land, being strapped protectively in a stall until landfall, possibly running on air or water if there was need for a short while), the horses seem to consider this strangeness for a moment before answering.

Demon, snarling - "I fear nothing!  I do not need to be asleep like a foal!  I will meet the sea and challenge it!"

Feather, tossing her glorious pale male, "Would the straps bruise or muss my fur?  If they will make a mess of my coat, then I will stone-sleep instead."

Eagle, shivering her coat as if to rid herself of flies, "Being in a wooden box with no sight of the sky?  That sounds horrid.  If I could walk amongst the clouds or upon the water, I would do that, else I would stone-sleep."

Honeybee, chewing her hay thoughtfully, "I'll stay awake.  Better to eat while you can."

Cloud, looking over at the others, then back at Narthian, "I will stay awake in the stall.  Someone needs to keep Demon in line."

Demon trumpets a challenge at that, but Cloud ignores it.

Mask, shaking his head and twitching his ears, "If Prreet can be stone, I can be stone, that way I will not be bored waiting."

Valiant, nickering at Thunder in greeting before answering, "I will sleep in stone, that way I am ready with Aberlayne needs me."

Lux Aurea, dancing in place nervously, "Stone-sleep! Else I won't be able to sleep at all in a wooden box that floats!  That sounds very unnatural!  I will stone-sleep!"

Haazheel asks that Feather be told that she will be well-padded if necessary. Also, If it's allowed, she'll be able to walk on the deck some of the time in fair weather.

Danta shakes his head, mildly amused at Sir Aberlayne's ideas. "Prreet is already stone," he reminds her, sliding his hand over the cat's smooth, cool surface. "I'll see if they have something that would let him walk on water in the morning." Mask, though... "How small will the spell reduce the horses? I imagine it would have to reduce their weight."

He didn't see a problem with simply leaving the horses behind. The guild master would certainly know someone who could be hired to keep them exercised if need be. While he'd gotten used to riding on the journey, it was hardly a necessity.

Since everyone was making plans for their next jaunt already, and seemed likely to scatter first thing in the morning, maybe he'd best mention what the fortune teller had told him now. They might want to pick up something to prepare for that problem before leaving town.

"There is something else all of you need to know," he tells them in a pause in the conversation. "I met a fortune teller, and what she foresaw is... disturbing. The shadows we fought in the mountains, they are hunting me. Perhaps all of us, but definitely me. If I'm with you, you will face them again -- and if I'm not with you, I probably won't survive."

Volsh stood and walked over to where Dante sat. The big human clapped a hand on the elven archer's shoulder with a flagon of wine in the other, which he raised high.

"Just as you all faced my trials with me, we will face your shadows with you!" he said somewhat loudly, his huge heart and mouth magnified by a bit of drink.

"And if they come for us, we will walk in the light of Farian's god to keep the away."

In reply to Averdante (msg # 31):

Breunor was less dramatic and sentimental, but no less adamant in his agreement with the big man.
"I don't know what kind of magical shenanigans you got yourself involved in, my friend, but you're One of Us, and that makes Your problems Our problems.    'Never turn your back on a Traveling Companion', as my old teacher used to say."

"The shadows with the druid?" Farian asks, furrowing her brow. "Your arrows made a most unusual sound, as I recall. I think now that I overlooked something. I did not have the feeling at the time that they were undead, but rather some magical or extra-planar creature. Nonetheless, they were evil and creatures of the Darkness. On the morrow, let's visit High Priest Leparion and see what guidance he might give. Do you have any of the arrows? I wish to examine them."

If Dante has any of the arrows, she will use her skill with enchanting weapons to examine them, assuming that they've already been Identified. Guessing that a Spellcraft check might help... 07:16, Today: Farian Raymellie rolled 28 using 1d20+11 ((17)).

Haazheel exclaims Excellent thought, Farian!

A bit surprised by Volsh's emphatic support, Dante doesn't really have a chance to offer his thanks before others chime in. It does much to bolster his spirits.

At Farian's question, he nods. "Yes -- the shadows with the mad druid we fought in the mountains near Fort Cross. Or, well, I don't know that they're the same shadows, or if the druid is still involved. But you are right about the sacred arrows -- they are specifically crafted to affect creatures not natural to the world. That is why the small god in the swamp took such harm from one, as well."

He fished one out from his quiver. "I worked with the Grove Warden here to make another six of these arrows," he told her, passing her the arrow to look at. "Eventually I can learn to craft them myself, but only a priest of Ehlonna can imbue Her blessing into them, and it is the Moonbow I bear which activates that power when they are loosed."

Looking around the table, and up at Volsh, he told his companions, "Thank you for your loyalty, my friends. The fortune teller's words weren't clear as to whether the shadows pursued only me, or all of us, but it was clear that I would need your help to overcome this threat."

With another nod to Farian, he adds, "I'd much like to speak to the high priest. I need to learn what I can about them -- and discover if there's some protection against their attacks I can acquire."

Dellas hadn't been really pay attention as he was imagining the ride on the ship, the pirates they would fend off, the hidden treasure they may find and all the different foods he may get to try. Little did he realize ship fare was never all that good, otherwise it wouldn't last.... He finally looked up to the others "We should get that wax chest and such to protect our books and maybe some scroll cases with a wax seal to protect our scrolls better"

While the others were haggling over the rediscovered items yet to be claimed, Lantamori left to go speak with Captain Hubert about his plans.

Feather gives that some thought, and relays through Narthian that if there is ample grooming included, she'd rather be awake so she can admire and be admired.



"Oh, small," Sir Aberlayne says, gesturing with her hand to indicate a size a few inches high, small enough to fit in a belt pouch or pocket.



"Any evil that would try to get to you would have to deal with me and the rest of the Leafblade Company, Sir Aberlayne says fiercely.



Farian examines the arrows carefully. 



The Mages' Guild likely will sell waxed book covers, slipcases, small waterproof bookboxes, as well as selling the enchantments necessary to protect books from water, fire, or other elements more directly.

--



Heading down to the Blue Docks, Lantamori can find the Sea Lady tied up at the end of the dock itself.  Mad Morrie, easily identifiable by his huge pile of tangled hair and beard, is bustling about on deck, coiling up some rope.  He gives Lantamori a wave, and upon hearing that she wishes to talk to Hubert, bellows out the captain's name.  After a moment, the large turtle appears at the gangplank and with a nod of his head indicates Lantamori can come up to talk.

When asked about the Sea Lady's exploration of various islands, and the city's need to find someone behind smugglers, Captain Hubert says, "Ah good, I'm glad you're all taking the job.  Sir Aberlayne said it was likely the group would be by sooner or later to talk.  So!  I am quite fine with going to all three of the island ports, and Gajin, but there are some smaller isles on the way that Morrie caught sight of that are out of the usual shipping lanes that we'd like to map and at least get an overview of."

"That sounds like it will work for us," Lantamori replied to the Captain.  "We're planning on bringing horses if that's all right.  We're not sure if we'll need them, but we'd like to have them, just in case.

"Do you know when you'll be ready to sail?"

Haazheel goes shopping (with Dellas?) for sailor's sea chests and waterproofing wax to, when necessary, rub along the cracks.

"This makes sense," Farian says, looking closely at Averdante's arrow. "The blessing bestowed by Ehlonna's priests would likely do the same thing, whether your target was not of this plane of existence or an undead. The charm it for the destruction of the unnatural! Very cleverly done!" She hands it reverently back to him.

At the prompting of the others, she tries the phylactery, but immediate removes them. "These are useless to us," she growls sternly, a shocking and sudden change in her demeanor. She drops them into a handy sack so she no longer need touch them. "" She turns to Dellas^?. "You have studied the making of such wondrous things. Can you also unmake them?" Her muscles and face are tense, tembling, as if a pot with a clamped lid over too hot of a fire, barely able to contain the eminent explosion.

^?: I'm trusting my memory on this one. I apologize if it's actually Haazheel that has that feat.